Khan 'Alam, Mughal Emperor Jahangir's Falconer and His Ambassador to Iran, with a Sparrow Hawk

A renowned painter who flourished in seventeenth-century India, Govardhan was a Mughal painter whose works spanned the reigns of emperors like Akbar, Jahangir, and Shah Jahan. His paintings are known for their bright, sensory colours and delicately structured forms. His folio showcases his mastery of capturing his subjects' psychological states, embedded in motifs of international fashion. The painting titled 'Khan 'Alam, Mughal Emperor Jahangir's Falconer and His Ambassador to Iran, with a Sparrow Hawk' presents a standing portrait of Mirza Barhurdar, also known as Khan 'Alam, Jahangir's falconer and ambassador to Persia from 1613 to 1619. In the portrait, Khan 'Alam is shown standing in an outdoor space with a sparrowhawk perched on his right hand, wearing an ochre leather glove. In his left hand, we see a small bird that may have been used to train the sparrowhawk for the emperor. The subject wears luxurious courtly attire, which includes bright red footwear and a cloth wrapped and knotted around his waist, with a turban on his head, indicating his royal stature. The minimal technique used to paint the sky and ground is a classic Mughal School practice that keeps the spectator's focus on the subject. The use of Gold leaf in the painting shows the wealth of the Mughal elite and their position under the emperors.